HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

PCEC looks to improve Pattaya

A hot party for fire extinguisher maker

500 Sawang Boriboon rescue volunteers given first aid, CPR training

King Seafood imports Austrian food pro to bolster menu

PCEC looks to improve Pattaya

Master of Ceremonies “Hawaii” Bob Sutterfield welcomed everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) on September 27 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s restaurant. After the usual announcements, he called on Stuart Saunders, the club’s vice chairman and main speaker for this Sunday’s program.

PCEC Vice Chairman Stuart Saunders introduces to members the Pattaya Progress Association concept, aimed to be a ‘clearing house’ or a ‘think tank’ for ideas on how to make Pattaya even better.
Stuart started his comments by noting that there are a lot of things in Pattaya that might be changed for the better. Further, he believes they can be changed. He has formed a group for this purpose, the Pattaya Progress Association, which he hopes will act as a sort of “think tank” or “clearing house” for ideas on improving Pattaya. Stuart, whose background is in automotive engineering, is also an inventor, having won Gold Medals in Taiwan and an Inventor of the Year Award in Australia. He has consulted to the likes of Eaton Corporation, Apple Computer, Boeing and NASA.
Consequently, it is in his nature to want to improve things. He said the Association was formed to help identify problems and provide constructive suggestions to the appropriate Thai authorities on how things could be improved. He thinks that having the suggestions come from many rather than a few may receive a better reception and actually get something accomplished. Also, he said that the Association will have a web site where, after initial contact about a situation, if nothing is done, the problem will be mentioned. By calling attention to it on the web site, he thinks it may help to get it fixed. He invited everyone to join in with him in this effort.
Stuart noted that many problems could be fixed with only a little effort, whereas others would take more time and money. Further, he encouraged everyone to also think “green” and do things themselves that will help the environment, such as taking public transportation when possible instead of driving their own vehicles.
Much of Stuart’s presentation dealt with what he considers to be long standing problems. With the aid of pictures and charts, he described these conditions and some things that he thinks could be done to solve the problem. He began with traffic management. One of the major problems he feels is that traffic signals are not on the two phase system - that is lights are green for both north and south bound traffic and then turn green for east and west bound traffic. This method, almost universal elsewhere, is more efficient because it allows more vehicles through the intersection without long delays. He mentioned that the system in Pattaya is generally to allow traffic for one direction at a time to proceed through the intersection. Stuart also pointed out where some of the intersections on Sukhumvit could be improved, especially some “T” intersections.
Another problem with traffic is the system used for addresses in Thailand, which is of little help in finding a particular location. This he believes results in more traffic than needed because of people driving around trying to find a particular location. Stuart showed how the address system works in Taiwan and follows a very logical pattern.
Another suggestion he has would be to improve the motorcycle taxis. One specific design of motorcycle could be used for all motorcycle taxis, designed to carry two passengers, and they could operate on ethanol. This design could easily incorporate self levelling headlights, to eliminate glare to oncoming drivers, now so common.
Stuart then highlighted several other areas such as the use of barbed wire to fence off areas, which is a safety hazard, especially on roadsides. He said if the city could provide plain wire, they could probably get plenty of volunteers to help change out the barbed wire.
He also pointed out the problem with drains, noting that there is apparently no requirement to use galvanized metal grills, which do not corrode and last for years.
He also noted the traffic problems at Bali Hai Pier whenever there is a public event held there. He believes that barring traffic in the Bali Hai Pier area, except for public transportation, is needed. By building a roundabout at the end of Third Road, traffic would have easy ingress and egress to drop off their passengers. Also, if during these events, businesses or others could be encouraged to help out by sponsoring baht busses to offer free transportation to and from the pier, this would further reduce the traffic congestion, and help build goodwill for those businesses.
Stuart also pointed out the problems at the entrance to Walking Street. He said that there could be a traffic light there, synchronised with the Second Road lights, that would allow pedestrians to more easily cross to Walking Street.
In conclusion, he also talked about the need to clean up the garbage that accumulates around town and to also take aggressive action against those that find it convenient to dump their rubbish and garbage on vacant land in the Jomtien area. Stuart answered several questions from the audience about key points of his talk. He said that if enough people get involved, they might be able to make a real difference.
Emcee Bob then updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Les Edmonds to conduct the always informative, interesting, and sometime humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.

Stuart shows how it might be possible to make two of the many ‘T’ intersections around Pattaya into a single 4 way intersection, controlled by 2 phase traffic lights. This should considerably enhance safety and reduce fossil fuel use.

A hot party for fire extinguisher maker

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The head of the company that manufactures unique fire-extinguishing balls threw a different kind of ball Sept. 15, inviting friends and family to attend a “3-in-1” party to celebrate birthdays and a university graduation.

Guests at the “3-in-1” Ball included Phanawatnan Kaimart (left), managing director of Siam Safety Premier Co. and Paiboon Sermsart, director of the Sriracha Post.

Phanawatnan Kaimart, managing director for Siam Safety Premier Co. hosted the Chinese dinner party at his residence to mark his son’s Sept 7 birthday, his own 45th birthday Sept. 15 and his wife’s new Master’s Degree from Burapha University.
Phanawatnan, who in 2007 received the “World Genius” award for his invention, thanked employees, friends and other guests for attending. Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening highlighted by live music.
Siam Safety’s Fire Extinguishing Ball is a sphere-shaped fire extinguisher that when tossed into a fire, activates within three seconds to disperse flame-extinguishing chemicals. It also sounds a loud noise as a fire alarm.

500 Sawang Boriboon rescue volunteers given first aid, CPR training

Sawang Boriboon Foundation volunteers are given basic first aid training at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is making sure city rescue volunteers have the first aid tools they need to save lives.
The hospital Sept. 21 hosted a “First Aid for Accidents and Basic Life Rescue” for 500 volunteers with the Sawang Boriboon Foundation, which often is the first on the scene at accidents and other emergencies.
Hospital officials said first aid and basic life-saving is very important and fast action is often required. Basic life rescue training can make the difference between life and death before transporting accident victims to the hospital.
Volunteers gained knowledge in first aid, CPR and participated in activities simulating scenarios they might face.

King Seafood imports Austrian food pro to bolster menu

Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn (left) and her kitchen staff look
 on eagerly as Sandra M. Herman prepares one of her specialties.

Phasakorn Channgam
One of Pattaya’s most popular seafood restaurants has imported an Austrian hospitality expert to ensure its menu tastes the way international visitors expect.
King Seafood invited hotelier and catering consultant Sandra M. Herman to the Walking Street eatery Sept. 24-25 to teach staff catering and international-cooking techniques. The aim, owner Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn said, was to raise King Seafood’s menu and dining experience to international standards.
During the training she emphasized the role of desserts, especially fruit salads and cakes. The rest of King Seafood’s menu of fresh seafood, she said, already will be one international visitors find tasty.
It is expected that the training will result in exciting new dishes being added to the menu. That, management hopes, draws more customers.

Austrian food expert Sandra M. Herman (seated left) and King Seafood owner Premruedee Jittiwutthikarn (seated right) announce the menu changes.

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